The Gazette 1994

GAZETTE

MAY 1994

T h e O f f i c e o f C o r o n e r i n I r e l a n d The office of coroner is one of great antiquity and it is mentioned as far back as 871 AD during the reign of King Alfred, but the institution of the office is usually dated from the publication of the Articles of Eyre in 1 194. operational independence of a judge yet his role is in some measure different in its legal setting from this model. The coroner like a judge frequently reaches verdicts by a judicial procedure, but unlike a judge the coroner's decisions are by no means directly subject to appeal.

Cr imi nal L aw C omm i t t ee (Continued from page 157)

relation to visits to prisoners by solicitors. Visiting solicitors will complete a form setting out the names of the prisoners they wish to visit. Solicitors will then be shown into a waiting room, which has been provided specially for them, until the prisoners are ready. At the termination of the visit the solicitor may obtain a certificate from the warden at the gate indicating the fact of such visit. This form should then be attached to the legal aid claim form and the solicitor will be paid for the visit at the completion of the case. This new procedure obviates the difficulties that have arisen in the past where the prison was unable to confirm visits. Furthermore, the new Committee has already written to the relevant authorities thanking them for their assistance in this matter and asking them to extend the new procedure to all prisons in the State. The Criminal Law Committee has representatives from each province and hopes that it is dealing with all the problems of practitioners of criminal law throughout the State. However, if there are any local problems affecting practitioners the Committee would be happy to deal with them if the problems are brought to its attention. waiting room is much more comfortable than the old. The General

The reason for the creation of the office of coroner was to establish an official whose primary duty was to protect the financial interest of the crown in criminal proceedings. The title of coroner was derived from this duty of securing a payment to the crown, namely, a corona. This fine was imposed by the king where the inhabitants of a district concealed a felony or permitted a guilty person to escape. The law concerning coronership in Ireland is now governed by the Coroners Act. 1962. Under this Act the primary function or 'general duty' of the coroner is to hold an inquest where he is informed of a violent, unnatural or sudden death in his district. His role is judicial in nature and effects the co-ordination of medico-legal investigation into deaths medical practitioner for at least five years'. There are currently forty-nine coroners in Ireland, twenty-three of whom are either solicitors or barristers. An unusual feature of the role of the coroner is his operational independence. There are elements in this which are common with the reported. A coroner must be a 'practising barrister, solicitor or

The Office of Coroner in Ireland

In Ireland of the 1990s, the role of coroner is increasingly social and educational in nature. A substantial minority of deaths reported to coroners are deaths that may be ascribable to social breakdown in one form or another and he increasingly has to deal with distressed relatives. He has valuable insight into the social dynamics behind such deaths. According to official statistics the number of deaths from suicide during the period 1972 to 1992 has increased fourfold (See table). The coroner is in a position where he has great potential to highlight areas of prevention i.e. road safety, potential health hazards and other possible sources of danger or fatal injury both in and outside the workplace. The quality, calibre and commitment of Irish coroners is evident from the fact that the community place great confidence in the office of the coroner

and it is an office that is seen to operate in the public interest.

Michael Staines. Chairman, Criminal Law Committee.

Coroners Association of Ireland

1

CONFIDENTIAL HELP LINE FOR SOLICITORS IN TROUBLE? WORRIED? NEED ADVICE? UTTERLY CON F I D E NT I AL TELEPHONE 2 - 84 - 84 - 84 24 HOUR SERVICE

159